Nothing is more fundamental, or important, when extinguishing a fire than stretching an attack line and putting water on the fire.  Yet, as fundamental as it is, there are some things to keep in mind that will help keep your attack line moving through a structure and keep you and your crew from having a really bad day.

1. Know your equipment: your hoseloads, nozzles, etc.
2. Know the strengths and weaknesses of your hoseloads (i.e. triple stacks are not great for stairs)
3. Make sure everyone knows their role within the crew
4. Spread out on the line. Assign Backup FF and Control FF positions w/ additional manpower.  The Backup FF helps the Nozzle FF advance during fire attack.  The Control FF stays at (or near) the point of entry, feeds hose from the exterior and chases kinks.
5. During the attack and advance on the fire, or whenever necessary, spray the floor ahead of the line to move debris, cool the floor and/or embers and check for “surprises”

These are just a few tips to help keep the line moving and make your attack on the fire a little easier, quicker and safer.  If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please feel free to leave your comments.

Thanks and Be SAFE

I caught this on vententersearch.com the other day and then was forwarded a link to additional info by LT Derek Franks (BTFD T375).  This door is pretty intense and, if not identified recognized on scene, could waste time and energy should we have to gain entry into a building.

Essentially, they are high security, reinforced steel doors with up to six (6) dead bolts (controlled by a single lock) and dressed to look like standard residential wooden doors.  Though it’s deceiving, shocking the door prior to attempting to force it should help you identify its construction as well as strong, and not-as-strong, points.

After seeing pictures and watching the video, it seems that either a K12 or solid through-the-lock techniques may be the best option if you find yourself up against this door.  Since all of the throws are controlled by one lock, pulling or spinning the lock and using key tools should be pretty quick.

Here are some links to info about the doors and to some tactics for forcible entry:

Residential Security Door – from vententersearch.com

Master Security Doors – Manufacturer’s website

How It’s Made – Master Security Door YouTube Video

Shocking Doors – YouTube video from Brotherhood Instructors

Through-the-Lock – YouTube video from Bellingham Fire Department

The following is an article contributed by Chris Garniewicz, a Truck Captain for the Bluffton Township Fire District.  He was the first due truck officer at the following incident and these are his accounts and lessons learned from that fire:

On September 11^th, 2009 at 2107 hours, Bluffton Fire responded to a reported (building) fire at 154 Bluffton Road.  While companies were enroute, Dispatch advised there were multiple calls for the fire.  The first due company was delayed, so the truck and the second due engine arrived first together with the Battalion Chief.  A thermal column was seen on approach, and on arrival there was heavy smoke pushing from the eaves and doors of a 5000 square foot, 13-unit storage facility.  Apparatus positioning was a challenge, due to very narrow and obstructed driveways, requiring the engine to position on the Alpha side for fire attack while the truck positioned on the Charlie/Delta corner and split crews, establishing two forcible entry teams.

The building was type 2B construction, with no fire stops between units (overhaul revealed an approximately 6” gap at ceiling level, allowing fire and heat to spread between all units).  Due to the mixture of combustibles within the units, the smoke was thick and dark.  First arriving companies identified the unit of origin by the warping and discoloration of the steel doors and metal siding.

The decision was made by the engine officer to aggressively attack the unit of origin, then the units on all sides working out from the fire.  Truck crews were assigned to open all the doors to facilitate attack and overhaul. During forcible entry operations, truck members were met with a few challenging lock configurations and locations.  The number of locks and lock types created a time issue.  As a result, crews decided to cut the door instead of wasting time with removing multiple locks.

In order to access the fire units and exposure units quickly, the truck crew initially made “A” cuts to allow for knockdown, then came back during overhaul and made full height and width horizontal cuts to allow safer operations within the units.  The initial cut into the fire units allowed the engine crew to stop the fire spread rapidly and minimize damage to the other units. In all, 13 overhead doors were cut and/or forced and the fire was extinguished with two handlines. The aggressive tactics and coordinated efforts of the companies allowed for a large

and challenging fire to be contained to the area of origin,

Sizing up commercial building for forcible entry problems gives companies a heads up when faced with a fire like that at Taylor Warehouse.  Crews were able to make decisions that allowed for quick access and a good stop.  Like anything in the fire service, we can’t be proficient at something we don’t practice.  Take out the saws, find something to cut (scrap, old locks, etc.) and know what you are capable of accomplishing prior to the emergency.

Most fire departments, if they are even lucky enough to staff a truck company, often struggle with how to maximize the tasks that the truck can accomplish on the fireground.  Since times are tough and budgets are tougher, increasing staffing is unlikely. Below are some ideas to consider when trying to get the most from your truckies.

Our truck company will be staffed with three: an officer, driver and one firefighter.  We’re going to talk about fundamental truck functions like ladders, gaining entry, search and rescue and ventilation.  This article will focus on Forcible entry techniques.  We’re going to keep it simple and talk about conventional forcible entry and a touch of through the lock.

We can’t talk about forcible entry without talking tools, primarily the irons.  What separates any good crew from another is the mastering of the fundamentals.  What separates one truck company from the others is irons work.  The axe and Halligan are arguably the most versatile and reliable combination of tools available.  Since we can’t fight the fire unless we can get to it, irons work may also be the most important “x-factor” on the fireground.

A growing trend that I’ve seen is splitting up the irons, where the officer will carry the axe and the firefighter carries the halligan (or visa versa).  The problem with this  is that now you’ve taken an already limited crew and given it even fewer options.  The irons are ideal Because they can be married together and carried by ONE Firefighter.  This enables the officer to carry another tool such as a hook or sledge (or whatever) depending on the occupancy and FD SOG’s. Below are some tips for maximizing efficiency when forcing entry.  At the bottom are some videos showing great training ideas and efficient operations.

• You don’t need fancy props to practice your irons work.
• Striking the tool from any position and in any conditions is often the first skill lost. To fix this, get a hold of tow landscape timbers, place them together vertically and ratchet strap them to any immovable object in the firehouse.  Use the seem in between the timbers as your jamb and strike away.
• The other “issue” is that the irons are too cumbersome or heavy to carry.  The best remedy for this is to carry the irons more often.  Carry them together on all Fires, fire alarms, MVA’s, gas leaks, around the firehouse or whatever it takes to get used to it.
• Learn about door construction, lock construction and their strengths and weaknesses.  Half the battle of forcible entry is knowing how and where to begin the operation.
• Shock (a.k.a. sound) the doors by striking them with a tool at all 4 corners, at/around the lock(s).  This will not only indicate door construction, but help to locate additional locks and weaken any hardware that may be secured to the door and door frame.
• Going through-the-lock after spinning the cylinder on commercial mortise locks may be the quickest way to gain entry without a K12.

In the end, a successful forcible entry operation will depend on the crew’s ability to not only use the irons, but size-up, evaluate and adjust with the situation as well.

FTM-PTB and Be Safe

Most in the fire service would agree that our success at any building fire is determined by the actions of the first arriving units (first alarm assignment).  The ability of the first arriving unit to provide a sufficient initial on-scene report will provide other incoming units with the information and direction they need to position and operate in the most efficient manner and, hopefully, take care of the fire safely and quickly.

To be effective, the initial on-scene report needs to be clear, concise and relevant.  Relevant information in this case would be information directly related to initial operations.  There are many acronyms that can be used to create a size-up.  However, most are very long, involve non-critical information and are subsequently difficult to remember.  Though important for on-going size-up after units are on-scene and operating, it is not practical for an initial report with the cavalry coming.

A very useful and effective acronym that I have used is the A-B-C-D Size-up.  It provides clear concise information in a uniform sequence that can be adopted by all to provide a standardized initial on-scene reporting method.  The breakdown is as follows

A- Address
B- Building Description
C- Conditions
D- Deployment and directives

First, confirm the address of the incident.  many fires are called in by witnesses, neighbors or homeowners with cell phones.  Accurately determining the incident location can effect running routes, layout instructions and apparatus placement.  we responded to a house fire where, based on the dispatch information, the second due would have to pass the incident street (1st ST.) and layout from 2nd St. to complete a split lay to us (1st Due).  However, the actual incident location was across the street from a hydrant and we made our own water supply which allowed the 2nd due to continue directly to the scene and provide much needed manpower.

Next, provide a useful description of the building.  How many times have you heard someone mark on-scene with a “working house fire” and that’s it!  That does nobody any good.  the description of the building will help incoming engines determine line size and length, the trucks are thinking about their searches, ladders and ventilation and chiefs need to consider additional resources.

Going hand in hand with the building description is a report of conditions.  Announcing that you have a “working house fire” is useless to incoming units for determining strategy and tactics.  When describing conditions, paint a picture for incoming units.  Describe how much smoke  or fire you have and give a specific location within the building. The following provides a vivid mental picture that can be useful to incoming units, “I have heavy smoke showing from the second floor, Alpha/ Delta corner”.

Finally, announce what you are doing and what needs to done (deployment and directives).  THis begins with identifying the operational mode (investigating, rescue, offensive or defensive).  This automatically tells incoming units what mindset to be in.  Next, provide any additional instructions to specific units or to dispatch.  This may include layout or placement instructions, announcement of special hazards or requesting additional alarms.

The A-B-C-D Size-up is ideal for providing relevant information in a short and sweet radio message.  Below are a couple of examples to help you get started.  I hope that you find it as helpful as I have.  Be Safe.

“Engine 1 is on-scene at 1 main St.  I have a 1-story single family dwelling with light smoke showing from the charlie/Delta corner. This will be a working fire, Engine 1 has it’s own water supply and will be going offensive, COmmand will be passed to Battalion 1, “

“Battalion 1 is on-scene at 321 Terrace Drive with a 2-story commercial dwelling with fire showing from the Second division side Alpha.  This will be an offensive working fire.  Start a second alarm.  Engine 1 will be attack on Division 2, Engine 2 will pull a back up line and Truck 1 will report to the roof for ventilation and give me ladders for egress.”